According to the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD), the Volunteer State’s unemployment level remains historically low.
In August, the state hit an all-time low seasonally adjusted unemployment rate of 3.1 percent, according to a release from the department.
The data shows that unemployment is down .2 percent from August of 2022, and that unemployment in the state has remained below 3.5 percent during every month since January of 2022.
“Data shows nonfarm employment decreased by 3,200 positions between July and August. The mining, logging, and construction sector saw the biggest drop in jobs. The professional and business services sector experienced the next biggest decline, followed by the information sector,” according to the release.
“The year-to-year statistics show Tennessee employers added 57,900 new positions to their payrolls,” the release said. “The education and health services sector recorded the largest gains over the last 12 months. The leisure and hospitality sector and government sector had the next largest increases in employment.”
According to the report, the state has added 57,900 nonfarm employment jobs over the past year, mostly in the education and health services, leisure and hospitality and government sectors.
A separate TDLWD release notes that unemployment dropped in nearly every county in the month of August.
“Ninety-three of Tennessee’s 95 counties recorded lower unemployment rates in August 2023, according to new data from the Department of Labor and Workforce Development (TDLWD). Unemployment for the month remained unchanged in Cheatham and Lauderdale counties,” according to that release.
“Moore County had Tennessee’s lowest unemployment rate in August,” the release says. “At 2.4%, its statistic dropped 0.3 of a percentage point from July’s rate of 2.7%. Both Sevier and Williamson counties had rates of 2.5%, a decrease for both counties of 0.2 of a percentage rate when compared to their previous month’s rates of 2.7%.”
The reports were released on the heels of news that Amazon will hire 7,600 seasonal and full-time workers in Tennessee to accommodate the upcoming holiday season.
Amazon will pay higher-than-normal wages to fill the jobs, too.
According to the company, customer fulfillment and transportation employees will average $20.50 per hour, which it said is a more than 50 percent increase over five years. Some locations will pay as much as $28 per hour for those positions.
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Pete D’Abrosca is a reporter at The Tennessee Star and The Star News Network. Follow Pete on X / Twitter.
